A Scented Spray That Could Make You Lose Weight? We Call Foul!

Another day, another ridiculous weight-loss fad. And, this time, it’s not a diet. It’s a scent. We think it’s fair to say that everyone likes to smell good, right? Wrong. A bizarre new product aims to deter would-be-overeaters with a pungent spray that claims to put you off your food. The catch? It smells so bad no one will want to come near you, either. Yes, Stink Yourself Slim has such a strong stench, it comes with a warning not to use it in public.

The spray is the brainchild of London entrepreneur Alex Fontaine, who discovered a foul smell was the only way she could curb her constant chocolate cravings. So, Stink Yourself Slim was (air)born. In an interview with The Daily Mail, Fontaine explains, “Every time I felt tempted by 'bad' foods, I had a sniff. It was a bit like getting an electric shock when you open the fridge door. The revulsion gave me that extra push to say no.” Daily Mail writer Laura Millar describes the product as smelling like "a potent cocktail of rotting trainers, mouldy fridge, teenage boy's bedroom and days-old sweat, all with the fusty underlying tang of mothballs." That's certainly not an odor for the faint-of-heart. But, we guess that’s the point.

We don’t know about you, but we’re experiencing a different kind of revulsion reading about this. Are we really so obsessed with losing weight that we’d stoop so low as to inhale garbage on a regular basis to avoid eating? According to the spray’s guidelines, you shouldn’t use it in public areas, on your skin, hair, or clothing, and instead should use it in the privacy of your own home. In other words, not only should you sacrifice your enjoyment of food, you should sabotage your social life, too.

We're also concerned about the long-term implications of this lose-weight-fast fad. Fontaine and her marketing team would be wise to remember that get-thin-quick tricks can do more harm than good. According to the CDC, “The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn't about short-term dietary changes.” Duh. “It's about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories your body uses.” Our advice? It’s just not worth it.

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